Faculty of Health

The Master of Nutrition and Dietetics develops skills and knowledge for the treatment and care of nutrient, food and diet-related health problems of both groups and individuals. The course focuses on the development of skills relating to nutritional science, clinical practice, health education, public health and research. Students with experience and training in hospitals, community health centres or food service provision have an advantage. Places in the course are limited by available professional practice placements, and are therefore competitive. This course has been accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

Careers

• Clinical health promotion officer
• Clinical dietitian
• Food industry professional
• Food service professional
• Public health nutritionist

Commonwealth Supported Places are available to domestic students in 2010

Full-time domestic students in this course may be eligible for student income support in the form of Youth Allowance or Austudy

Complete Course Outline

including details of professional recognition.

The current Course Outline is here.

Course: Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (772AA)

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Award: Master of Nutrition & Dietetics
Course Level: 04
Faculty: Faculty of Health
University Admissions Centre (UAC) Course Code: 882830
CRICOS Code: 049506C
Offered Locations and Delivery Modes:

• UC Bruce Campus
  • Full Time, Face-to-Face - Convener: Ms Jane Kellett (Ph: +61 2 6201 2507)
  • Part Time, Face-to-Face - Convener: Ms Jane Kellett (Ph: +61 2 6201 2507)

Introduction

Dietetic professionals are engaged in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of nutrients, food and diet related health problems. This Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics provides the knowledge, skills and professional practice experience necessary for competent nutritional treatment and care of groups and individuals. The course is targeted at preparing the graduate student to be a dietitian through the development and practice of nutritional science, clinical, health education, public health and research skills. Students will have work experience and training in environments such as hospitals, community health centres, and food service providers. These working environments are available across the year and some professional placements may need to be taken outside of semester times. Places for dietetic education and training are limited by the availability of professional practice placements and are therefore, competitive.

Students are expected to demonstrate capacity to succeed at this level through their undergraduate academic performance. Professional development activities in the field may also be taken into account.

Full-time domestic students in this course may be eligible for student income support in the form of Youth Allowance or Austudy.

Course Requirements

48 credit points from group 1 or group 2 as set out below:

Group 1:
For those who do not have a 3 year undergraduate degree in human nutrition or equivalent. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit points at PG level.

(a) Required (42 credit points) as follows:
8258 Nutritional Science G
8256 Nutrition and Disease G
6476 Nutrition, Society and Health G
8252 Food Science G
6469 Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG
8249 Community and Public Health Nutrition PG
8250 Counselling and Communication for Dietitians PG
6486 Research Planning PG
6470 Professional Practice in Health Settings PG
7363 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part A)
7405 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part B)
6554 Introduction to Statistics G *
7619 Food Service Management PG (6cp)
* Students may choose an elective if they have satisfactorily passed a statistics unit within 5 years prior to enrolling in this course.

(b) Restricted choice (6 credit points) as follows:
6 credit points chosen from the following list:
6484 Human Physiology and the Lifecycle G
8254 Nutrition Across the Lifecycle G
6479 Chemistry 1A G
6485 Chemistry 1B G
6480 Biochemistry G
6481 Human Biochemistry G
7896 Systemic Anatomy and Physiology G
7202 Regional Anatomy and Physiology G
8280 Advanced Functional Anatomy G
6486 Research Planning PG
6450 Health Professional Practice 1 PG
6471 Sports Nutrition PG
8381 Food, Health and the Environment PG
tba Exercise through the Lifecycle PG (to be approved)
8363 Biochemistry of Exercise G
7683 Foundations of Community Development PG

not more than one of the following 2 units:
8260 Research Project in Allied Health PG
8261 Research Project in Allied Health PG (6cp)

With the approval of the course convener, students may select G or PG level units from relevant multi-disciplinary areas that form a coherent study plan (eg in marketing, health promotion, clinical trials management etc).

Students enrolling in the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics may only enrol in one of the Research Project in Allied Health units. Students who are subsuming Graduate Certificates or Diplomas that included a 3 credit point Research Project in Allied Health may make a case for enrolment in a 6 credit points Research Project in Allied Health. Students who have studied any of the units listed above at undergraduate level in other courses may be exempted from these units, but are required to study elective units as substitutes, which must be approved by the course convener. Students who have completed the units Nutritional Science and Nutrition and Disease (or equivalents) 5 years or more prior to enrolling in this course are required to undertake these units again, except in extenuating circumstances.

Group 2:
For those who do have a 3 year undergraduate degree in human nutrition or equivalent. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit points at PG level.

(a) Required (30 credit points) as follows:
6469 Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG
8249 Community and Public Health Nutrition PG
6470 Professional Practice in Health Settings PG
7363 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part A)
7405 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part B)
8250 Counselling and Communication for Dietitians PG
6486 Research Planning PG
6554 Introduction to Statistics G *
7619 Food Service Management PG (6cp)
* Students may choose an elective if they have satisfactorily passed a statistics unit within 5 years prior to enrolling in this course.

(b) Restricted choice (18 credit points) as follows:
18 credit points chosen from the following units.
8381 Food, Health and the Environment PG
6484 Human Physiology and the Lifecycle G
3426 Special Research Topics PG
6486 Research Planning PG
6450 Health Professional Practice 1 PG
7683 Foundations of Community Development PG
tba Exercise through the Lifecycle PG (to be approved)
8363 Biochemistry of Exercise G
8280 Advanced Functional Anatomy G

not more than one of the following 2 units:
8260 Research Project in Allied Health PG
8261 Research Project in Allied Health PG (6cp)

With the approval of the course convener, students may select G or PG level units from relevant multi-disciplinary areas that form a coherent study plan (eg in marketing, health promotion, clinical trials management etc).

Students enrolling directly into the masters course may only enrol in one of the Research Project in Allied Health units. Students who are subsuming Graduate Certificates or Diplomas that included a 3 or 4 credit point Research Project in Allied Health unit may make a case for enrolment in a 6 credit point Research Project in Allied Health. Students who have studied any of the units listed above at undergraduate level in other courses may be exempted from these units, but are required to study elective units approved by the course convener.

Course Duration

Standard four semesters full-time or equivalent. Maximum twelve semesters.

Typical Course Structure

For graduates without an undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition (or equivalent):

Semester 1	Semester 2
YEAR 1
8258 Nutritional Science G	8256 Nutrition and Disease G
6554 Introduction to Statistics G *	6476 Nutrition, Society and Health G
Restricted choice unit	8252 Food Science G
Restricted choice unit	6486 Research Planning PG
YEAR 2
8250 Counselling and Communication for Dietitians PG	7619 Food Service Management PG (6cp)
8249 Community and Public Health Nutrition PG	6470 Professional Practice in Health Settings PG
6469 Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG
7363 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part A)	7405 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part B)

* Students may choose an elective if they have satisfactorily passed a statistics unit within 5 years prior to enrolling in this course.

For graduates with an undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition (or equivalent):

Semester 1	Semester 2
YEAR 1
8249 Community and Public Health Nutrition PG	6486 Research Planning PG
6554 Introduction to Statistics G *	Restricted choice unit
Restricted choice unit	Restricted choice unit
Restricted choice unit	Restricted choice unit
YEAR 2
6469 Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG	7619 Food Service Management PG
8250 Counselling and Communication for Dietitians PG	6470 Professional Practice in Health Settings PG
Restricted choice unit
7363 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part A)	7405 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part B)

* Students may choose an elective if they have satisfactorily passed a statistics unit within 5 years prior to enrolling in this course.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet normal University requirements for admission to a master's degree course. Applicants should also have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least second year biochemistry (year-long), appropriate human physiology and anatomy studies, and nutrition-related key content areas. Admission is competitive, based on prior academic achievement and relevant work experience and/or professional development (including references).

Students who completed key nutrition studies/units including Nutritional Science and Nutrition and Disease (or equivalent) 5 years or more prior to enrolling in this award may be required to undertake these units again. Students may be exempted on the basis of providing supporting evidence of ongoing professional development activities in this field.

An overall Academic IELTS band score of 7 with no component less than 6.

Additional requirements:
Students are required to have police checks, and current immunisation as specified by ACT Health. Students are not permitted to undertake more than 12 credit points of cross-institutional studies. Approval to undertake cross institutional units that are available at UC with a similar curriculum and content will not be granted, except in exceptional circumstances. Students are advised to seek course advice from the course convener and permission to undertake any cross-institutional studies prior to negotiating with another university.

Professional Recognition

Dietitians Association of Australia.

Subsumable awards

Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition,
Graduate Certificate in Sports Nutrition,
Graduate Diploma in Dietetics,
Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition.